The Monthly Organizer

November 2008

Monthly Motivation

Monthly Organization Tip

By the time you receive this newsletter in your in-box, Halloween will be 16 days away. If you have not yet gotten your kids' costumes and the treats to pass out to the neighborhood children, now is the time to get those tasks checked off your list. Halloween marks the official start of the Tips to Organize Life Holiday Preparation Season. Here is how you can get yourself prepared to enjoy a stress-free holiday season this year.

1. As soon as you have everything you need for Halloween, shift your attention to planning for Thanksgiving. Use these Thanksigiving dinner recipes as a starting point to plan your menu.

2. As soon as you have your Thanksgiving menu planned, create a shopping list and a preparation schedule allowing you to do as much as possible ahead of time so you can enjoy Thanksgiving day with your family.

3. When your planning for Thanksgiving is done, it's time to move on to planning for Christmas.

When it comes to planning for the holidays, create a schedule that allows you to accomplish your goals early and enjoy the holiday season.

If you don't already have it, now is the perfect time to get yourself a copy of Tips to Organize Events, the Tips to Organize Life party planner that helps you plan the perfect party every time!

Monthly Money Saving Tip

With the current state of the economy many people will be cutting back on their holiday expenses this year. Of course you can always offset the cost of hosting a holiday by asking family members and friends to bring a dish to share and you can save money by cutting down on gift exchanges, opting for no-cost ways of showing your friends and family that you care.

Did you know that you can also save a lot of money this holiday season just by planning ahead?

• Start watching for sales at the grocery store. Stock up on ingredients you need for the holidays when they are on sale.

• Set a budget for gift giving and try to stick to it when shopping

• Research gifts online to find the best prices. Start watching for sales and coupons in the mail. Retailers will be offering a lot of deals to encourage purchases this year because they know the effect the economy will have on their profits.

• Shop early, especially if you have a hard-to-buy-for person on your gift list. When you leave your shopping until the last minute you will start to panic because you are running out of time. That will cause you to spend more than you had budgeted because you are out of time to continue looking.

• Save your receipts. If you shop early and an item you purchased goes on sale after you have bought it, many retailers will give you back the difference within a certain amount of time from the purchase date.

• Plan for next year. Take advantage of the after-holiday sales to stock up on necessities for next year. Things like gift wrap, greeting cards and decorations are usually significantly marked down. But them now, save money and be prepared for next year.

Recipe of the Month

I came across this recipe a couple of years ago. It is incredibly delicious and a very heart-warming meal, but it takes a really long time to prepare. I added a few shortcuts and turned the original recipe into this quick fix version that you can enjoy with your family any night of the week.

So even while you are in the midst of all of your holiday planning you can still enjoy a home cooked meal with your family. After all, spending time with your family is what this season is all about.

Monthly Entertaining Tip